The Altona Elks have once again added to their impact on the community.
On June 22nd, the Elks hosted a fundraising event for South Central Cancer Resource at the Altona Curling Club.
Guy Mullen, a member of the Altona Elks (which is a part of a Canada-wide volunteer organization), was very pleased with the outcome of the fundraiser and overwhelmed by the event's positive and united atmosphere.
“I left that event, and I’m sure everybody else did too, feeling great.”
Mullen is keen on supporting South Central Cancer Resource because the non-profit organization depends on the help of community donors to offer its many services.
“Last year alone, just helping people get to their appointments in Winnipeg and all over cost them almost $250,000,” says Mullen.
Members of South Central Cancer Resource were present at the fundraiser to provide tax-deductible receipts to those who supported their organization, and they also took the stage to share information about the services that SCCR provides.
“[South Central Cancer Resource is] helping people that have lymph problems after a mastectomy. They're helping people that can’t pay for their medication. They're helping people that have no one,” says Mullen.
The fundraiser featured music from The Pylons (a local band from Altona), a pig roast by The Hogman, a silent auction, and a raffle.
According to Mullen, The Pylons had a significant role in creating the event's positive atmosphere.
“[E]very number they played was perfect. We sang along, we clapped along, and they set the mood for that hall and everyone there.”
The Hogman spent over 30 hours roasting a pig for the fundraiser. Mullen says that the community support outside the event night itself was also immense — The Hogman spent 30 hours preparing the pig for the meal, a long list of businesses donated from the Winkler, Morden, and Altona areas (Dead Horse Cider, Outpost Grill, Sun Valley Co-op, Altona Farm Service, and Hair Reflections, to name a few), and someone even volunteered to make beans for 130 people.
“They were the best beans [I’ve ever eaten],” says Mullen.
Mullen stresses that the Elks’ fundraiser could not have been such a success without the support of everyone involved; he is grateful for the generosity of all the sponsors, especially those who went above and beyond to attend the fundraiser in person.
The purpose of the event was close to everyone’s heart. Mullen says that The Hogman, who devoted a significant amount of time to provide for the evening’s meal, approached the Elks with the idea of a fundraiser for the SCCR in honour of a loved one who was lost to cancer. Mullen says that this resounded with the Elks, especially because they had also lost a beloved member of their chapter to cancer.
Mullen says that many of the people in attendance had also been touched by the disease in some way.
“When I got up at the [microphone] and started to talk, I almost teared up, because I was thanking some of the people, and I started to think, ‘I'm looking across the table — that’s a widow, she lost her son, and there's two ladies looking at me — they’ve both had mastectomies’ . . . . I started to get really emotional.”
The success of the fundraiser and the benevolence of its participants has encouraged the Elks to consider establishing the event as an annual occurrence, according to Mullen. It may be the beginning of a fundraiser that brings the community together to support the SCCR for many years to come.
“[T]his gives you an idea of what our community is like. This is the best place on earth.”
As for Mullen’s message to the community, it’s simple.
"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
To learn more about the Altona Elks and how they support the community, see the link below.
~With files from Candace Derksen~
Tue, Jul 2, 4:00 PM
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